A crowd of several thousand University of Colorado Buffaloes fans filled Folsom Field with enthusiastic cheers Saturday, helping new head football coach Mike MacIntyre and the 2013 Buffs feel at home as the team played its annual spring game.

Of course, it's easy to root at an intrasquad game where every big play, defense or offense, is being made by a Buff. But after a 1-11 2012 season during which the team failed to win at home for the first time in its history, any reason to sing the fight song is a good one.

"This is a lot more people than we expected," 2010 CU alumnus Donny Baggus said of the fan turnout at the typically sparsely attended spring game -- for which attendance was free.

"It's huge," agreed his sister, Melissa Baggus.

Total attendance for the game was 10,244, according to CU officials.

Donny Baggus has been a CU season ticket holder since he was a student and already has his season tickets secured for the upcoming season. He and his sister come to the spring game every year, and said they were particularly interested this year to see Coach MacIntyre's new offensive scheme.

"It's a good chance to get a look at the team and see what they have and get amped for the season," Donny Baggus said.

Both brother and sister said they liked the aggressive downfield passing attack they saw during the game. Donny Baggus said he hopes for fewer mental errors out of the Buffs this year, while Melissa Baggus said she just really wants to see a win over in-state rival Colorado State University.

Saturday's game gave the team, the CU marching band, cheerleaders and dance team a chance to warm up, and gave MacIntyre a chance to address the Buffs faithful at half time.

MacIntyre talked about his many positive interactions with Buff fans around Boulder since being hired in December, and his commitment to the legacy of the CU football program.

"Everyone involved with our program... is very proud and happy to be a Colorado Buffalo," MacIntyre said, before addressing the CSU game. "We look forward to seeing you on Sept. 1 at Sports Authority Field as we take on the team up north."

Bruce Joss and Jim Hassett, CU alumni who have been season ticket holders "since almost the Bronze Age" took in the spring game from the western stands.

Both have their season tickets for the upcoming season squared away, and said last season's dreadful results didn't affect their decision to come back for another year of football at Folsom.

"It helps when you use sarcasm, but the thing is, we also remember other lean times," Hassett said.

Joss and Hassett said they were excited to check out MacIntyre's pistol offense and both were impressed by the sharp play they saw out of quarterbacks Nick Hirschman and Connor Wood, who started for the opposing black and gold teams respectively.

The black team eventually prevailed in the game 17 -16 on a last-second field goal, before all the Buffs' players rallied in front of east stands to sing the fight song.

Joss and Hassett said they don't expect the Buffs to win many games in 2013, but hope the Buffs can avoid the blowout losses seen at home last year.

"Hopefully, they are going to be more competitive," Joss said. "Even if they lose some games 40 to 35 that'll be an improvement."

CU freshman George Whitley attended his first spring game. The 18-year-old from Boston had season tickets in 2012, and despite having yet to see the Buffs win at home, he said he enjoys Folsom immensely and plans to be back for every game in the upcoming season starting with the CSU game in Denver.

"I have a lot of hope for this year," said Whitley." We have a new coach. I saw them going for a lot of deep balls today, which was interesting. Last year I feel like we ran the ball a lot.

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